Identification and Isolation of lupeol and β-sitosterol from Iraqi Bauhinia variegata and determination the cytotoxic activity of the hexane extract of its leaves, stems and flowers

Objective: Bauhinia variegata is evergreen small medicinal tree grows all over the world especially in the tropical regions. The aims of the study were detection, isolation quantification and identification of β-sitosterol and lupeol of Iraqi B. variegata stem using various chromatographic and spectroscopic methods, beside the cytotoxic investigation of hexane extract of different aerial parts. Methods: detection by GC mass spectroscopy, isolated by preparative TLC. The identification and the structural elucidation of isolated β-sitosterol and lupeol were performed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and FTIR. While the cytotoxic activity was performed against MCF-7 cells line. Results: Results highlighted that β-sitosterol and lupeol present in Iraqi B. variegata stem that confirmed by different chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis. Also the leaves extract has the superior action on MCF-7 cells followed by stem extract and end up by flower extract. Conclusions: The plant has a good content of both β-sitosterol and lupeol and the good cytotoxic action of aerial parts hexane extract confirm the successful plantation of B. variegata. These isolated compounds are a suitable candidate for further pharmacological study.

Biogenic Synthesis and Characterization of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Silver Nanoparticles Using Flower Extract of Couroupita guianensis Aubl.

Couroupita guianensis Aubl. is an important medicinal tree. This tree is rich in various phytochemicals, and is therefore used as a potent antioxidant and antibacterial agent. This plant is also used for the treatment of various diseases. Here, we have improved its medicinal usage with the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Couroupita guianensis Aubl. flower extract as a reducing and capping agent. The biosynthesis of the AgNPs reaction was carried out using 1 mM of silver nitrate and flower extract. The effect of the temperature on the biosynthesis of AgNPs was premeditated by room temperature (25 °C) and 60 °C. The continuous stirring of the reaction mixture at room temperature for approximately one hour resulted in the successful formation of AgNPs. A development of a yellowish brown color confirmed the formation of AgNPs. The efficacious development of AgNPs was confirmed by the characteristic peaks of UV–Vis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy spectra. The biosynthesized AgNPs exhibited significant free radical scavenging activity through a DPPH antioxidant assay. These AgNPs also showed potent antibacterial activity against many pathogenic bacterial species. The results of molecular dynamics simulations also proved the average size of NPs and antibacterial potential of the flower extract. The observations clearly recommended that the green biosynthesized AgNPs can serve as effective antioxidants and antibacterial agents over the plant extract.

Diversity and potential utilization of medicinal plants in Way Kambas National Park

The lowland forest area of Section I Way Kanan, Way Kambas National Park, possesses abundant medicinal tree species. This study aims to identify the medicinal tree species and their potential uses. Data collection was carried out by an inventory of all tree species by the belt transect method on a 100 m x 10 m. All plants were sampled for the herbarium, recorded, identified, and then analyzed for their usefulness. Data analysis was carried out to obtain the accuracy of scientific names, using the comparative identification approach, comparing herbarium samples from the field with herbarium specimens from Heyne’s collection at the Forest Botanical Herbarium, Forest Research and Development Center, Bogor. The identification results using herbarium specimens recorded 24 medicinal tree species of the 20 genera and 20 families. Based on Heyne’s Herbarium collection, 13 tree species of the 11 genera and 11 families possess the potential for medicinal and food. Among these species, the community still uses medicinal trees, such as Artocarpus elasticus, Baccaurea bracteata, Bouea oppositifolia and Cinnamomum iners. In general, people use medicinal plants when a family member is sick or used as tonics and supplements to maintain endurance.

Land use impacts on Boswellia dalzielii Hutch. an African frankincense tree in Burkina Faso

Boswellia dalzielii Hutch., an African frankincense tree, is a socio-economically important aromatic and medicinal tree. It is currently threatened by uncontrolled exploitation, and therefore requires action to ensure its sustainable management. This study assessed the population structure and regeneration of its natural stands across three land use types in Burkina Faso: woodlands, fallows and farmlands. Sixty, fifty and fifty 50 m × 20 m plots were established respectively in woodlands, fallows and farmlands. All the plots were surveyed for adult tree (dbh ≥ 5 cm) density, dbh, total height and health conditions. Data on regeneration density (dbh < 5 cm), source (generative, stem shoots, suckers), total height and collar diameter were also collected. The results show similar total tree heights (7.0 m-9.0 m) but significantly (p < 0.05) smaller tree dbh in woodlands (mean ± SD: 20.5 ± 0.49 cm) and fallows (29.3 ± 0.64 cm) than in farmlands (32.8 ± 0.15 cm). Adult tree density (trees/ha) was 1.3 and 2.7 times higher in woodlands (82.37 ± 6.57) than in fallows (62.00 ± 3.98) and farmlands (30.02 ± 1.63), respectively. The density of regeneration in woodlands was 28 and 6 times higher than in fallows and farmlands, respectively. The majority (> 50%) of regenerating plants were suckers and no seedling regeneration was found in farmlands. The distribution of trees in diameter classes was J-shaped in woodlands, bell-shaped in farmlands and positive asymmetric in fallows, indicating recruitment bottlenecks. We found that 80.18% of individuals encountered were unhealthy. Intensive debarking and cutting were the main threats to the species and no conservation strategy was in place in the study region. We suggest measures to reduce intensive debarking and cutting, which should contribute to better management of the species.

Medicinal tree species of Madhya Pradesh: Distribution, use pattern and prospects for conservation

The present investigation was carried out to explore the distribution and conservation of the medicinal tree species in Madhya Pradesh. The paper deals with the 124 tree species of probable medicinal potential, belonging to 95 genera and 45 families from Madhya Pradesh.

Seed Storage and Germination Performance in Knema attenuata - an Endemic Medicinal Tree of Western Ghats, India

Detailed study on seed storage and germination trailed in Knema attenuata (Wall. ex Hook. f. & Thomson) Warb.– the IUCN Red Listed ‘least concern’ medicinal tree species revealed that seeds were of recalcitrant nature. Viability of the seeds could be maintained for a longer period of up to 6 months with 47% Moisture content (mc) when kept in closed polycarbonate bottles at seed bank condition [20±20C Temp. and 40% Relative Humidity (RH)]. The 55% seed germination under normal climatic condition could be enhanced to a much higher percentage (75±5) inside the mist house chamber (34±30C Temp. and 70-80% RH).

Boswellia serrata ROXB. EX COLEBR. (Salai): An Ayurvedic Herb with Anti-inflammatory Potential

Medicinal plants hold a very significant place in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and nutraceutical industries. Boswellia serrata is one of such plants which is used in the pharmaceutical as well as cosmetic industry for so many purposes. This medicinal tree belongs to the family Burseraceae and called Indian Olibanum in English and Salai in Hindi. It is found in many Indian states including Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Andhra Pradesh etc. It is a well-recognized plant in Ayurvedic pharmacopeia. It is used in folk medicine practices to treat many human ailments such as inflammation, joint pain, cough, diarrhoea, dysentery, stomach pain, edema, hydrocoele, toothache and headache etc. The characteristic feature of the plant is its oleo-gum-resin which is a complex mixture of many therapeutically important phytochemical constituents such as boswellic acids. The main therapeutic activities associated with this plant are anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, diuretic, anti-obesity, analgesic and anti-cancer. The present study has summarized the therapeutic and pharmacological value of Boswellia serrata along with its utilization in the Folklore medicinal system.

Lignans from Bursera fagaroides: Chemistry, Pharmacological Effects and Molecular Mechanism. A Current Review

Bursera fagaroides is a medicinal tree endemic to México, it belongs to the Burseraceae family and has proven antitumor activity. Modern research, performed principally with the bark extracts, have indicated that lignans are the main active constituents of B. fagaroides, with a high content of aryltetralin, aryldihydronaphtalene, dibenzylbutirolactone, and dibenzylbutane-type lignans as the constituents of the active extracts. In general, lignans from B. fagaroides exhibited potent anti-cancer activity, although antitumor, anti-bacterial, anti-protozoal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral properties have also been described. This review covers literature-reported lignans from B. fagaroides, chemical structures, nomenclature, chromatographic techniques of isolation, characterization strategies, and highlights the anti-cancer molecular mechanisms of lignans. Evaluation of the anticancer function of lignans has been extensively investigated since the cytotoxic in vitro results and in vivo assays in mice and zebrafish models to the tubulin molecular recognition by NMR. Also, we discuss the future direction for studying this important plant species and its lignan metabolites.